Simmons scores 26 as Lady Vols tame Auburn, 93-63

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT/Submitted) -- #10 Tennessee used a 19-0 run in the first half to blow open a close game on the way to topping Auburn, 93-63 on Thursday night at Thompson-Boling Arena.

The Lady Vols moved to 21-5 overall and 10-3 in the SEC while Auburn dropped to 14-12 and 5-8 in the league. Tennessee has now won seven in a row in the series as well as 16 in a row in Knoxville vs. the Tigers. The Lady Vols are 39-10 all-time vs. Auburn and 19-2 in Knoxville, winning every game since 1990.

Senior Meighan Simmons tallied 26 points as she moved to seventh on the career scoring list (1,891), passing former teammate Shekinna Stricklen (1,882).Junior Isabelle Harrison tallied 10 and grabbed 11 rebounds for her 13th double-double this season.Two other Lady Vols scored in double-figures as Cierra Burdick scored 17 and Andraya Carter chipped in with 12.The 30-point margin of victory was the largest for the Lady Vols SEC this season.

The win was the ninth wire-to-wire victory of the season and fourth in SEC play.Auburn was led by Tyrese Tanner, who had 15. Sister Tra'Cee Tanner had a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Two other Tigers also scored in double-figures as Brandy Montgomery (12) and Hasina Muhammad (10).

Tennessee held a narrow two-point lead with 14 minutes left in the first half, 13-11. But, the Lady Vols blew open the game scoring 19 consecutive points over a span of five minutes to take a 32-11 lead with 8:35 left in the first half. A Simmons 3-pointer capped the spurt giving her 10 points in the stretch.

The Lady Vols led 54-33 at halftime, matching their second-most points in a first half this season (Tennessee State). UT tallied a season-best 62 in the first half of a 110-42 win over Lipscomb on Dec. 29.

Simmons had 19 points in the first half on 8-of-13 shooting.Tennessee continued to pour in the points in the second half, outscoring the Tigers, 39-30.The largest margin of the game was 38 on a Burdick free throw with six minutes left. That put UT ahead, 91-53.

The Lady Vols head to Missouri to face the Tigers on Sunday at 2 p.m. The game will air on SEC TV and can be heard on the Lady Vol Network.

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